FIFA World Cup 2026 Adjusts Player of the Match Awards for Muslim Athletes

Changes to Player of the Match Awards

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has introduced a notable change to the Player of the Match (POTM) award presentation for Muslim athletes during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. This year's POTM award, backed by the beer brand Michelob ULTRA, is determined through an online fan vote. Typically, the awarded player receives the trophy post-match and poses for photographs in front of a backdrop featuring the sponsor's logo, which are later shared across FIFA World Cup social media channels.

Special Considerations for Muslim Players

Recognizing that alcohol consumption is prohibited in Islam and in several predominantly Muslim countries, FIFA has adopted a unique approach for Muslim players. When a Muslim athlete is awarded the POTM title, the usual Michelob ULTRA branding is omitted from the presentation backdrop. This adjustment has been applied to players such as Ismael Koné from Canada, Mahmoud Abunada from Qatar, Yan Diomande from Ivory Coast, Ramin Rezaeian from Iran, Emam Ashour from Egypt, Ali Olwan from Jordan, Ismael Saibari from Morocco, and Johan Manzambi from Switzerland. Instead of the Michelob ULTRA logos, the backdrop displays the FIFA World Cup emblem along with the phrase 'Superior Player of the Match.' Although the trophy remains largely unchanged, the branding associated with the alcohol company is absent.

In previous FIFA World Cups, Budweiser served as the official sponsor for the Player of the Match award. Notably, during the 2018 tournament, Egypt's goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy declined to accept the trophy after his impressive performance against Uruguay due to its association with an alcohol brand. Similar adjustments have been observed in domestic football, where Muslim players like Yaya Touré have previously refused the Player of the Match award in the Premier League because it included a bottle of alcohol. Since then, a more neutral prize has been introduced, and trophy presentations now often feature non-alcoholic champagne.